Chapter 5 A Little "Vanished" Shock

Duncan knew that the arrangements he had made today were destined to bring about a shock to the entire Endless Sea—this "warning" was enough to impact everyone, not only because of the content of the warning, but also because of its source.

The civilized world would face a little "Vanished" shock.

"This is a big deal," Tyrion broke the silence. "The church doesn't need to worry. They have always been keen and professional in dealing with transcendent crises, and they will definitely pay enough attention to it. But the city-states are complicated. I doubt whether everyone can establish an effective early warning mechanism!"

Before that, let’s consider how many people will correctly treat this warning.

Lucretia's voice came from the crystal ball, "In this world, there are countless warnings about the Wei You, and most of them come from those crazy cultists. Now the Vanished is suddenly starting to warn the world. Frankly, many people's first reaction is probably similar to when they come into contact with those Wei You cultists, or even worse."

Shelley whispered at the table: "After all, their reputation precedes them. That's their problem."

Duncan glanced at Shelley expressionlessly and shook his head, saying, "The Vanished's reputation is a good thing. Even if some people don't want to believe the content of the warning, they will at least take the warning itself seriously—even if it's out of fear of the Vanished, they will be cautious. That's enough!"

"I will contact the church as soon as possible," Agatha nodded, her voice hoarse and gentle. "I believe the Sanctuary of Death will definitely pay attention to this warning from the Vanished with the highest level of attention!"

"After the Deep Sea of Death and the Academy of Truth receive the news, the Fire Passers will definitely receive it as well," Vanna nodded and added. "I will directly confirm this matter with the Pope!"

"I haven't communicated with the Academy Ark for a long time. This is a good opportunity to catch up with old friends," Morris took off his monocle and wiped it. "But I need to prepare some additional rituals. It's not easy to contact the Academy Ark from the Endless Sea for the necessary ointment and herbal powder!" Morris's words suddenly reminded Duncan of something!

"Has there been any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate last time?" He looked at the great scholar. "I mean, have you found the source of the broken cross mark carried by the End-of-Days Evangelist?"

"I'm sorry, there's no progress yet." Morris showed a hint of apology on his face. "I have written many letters to my academic friends and contacted several universities with good relationships, but I haven't found any records related to that broken cross mark. Currently, I can only confirm that they may have appeared on some ancient Cretan kingdom building ruins..."

"I see…"

Duncan was a little regretful, but he knew that investigating a mysterious symbol with a lack of information was like looking for a needle in a haystack, so he didn't dwell on the issue too much and casually said, "Then continue to pay attention to this matter. If there is any progress, tell me as soon as possible!"

Morris immediately lowered his head, "Yes, Captain!"

Duncan hummed, then thought briefly to make sure there was nothing left out, then took a light breath, got up from the long table, and glanced at everyone present!

"Then today's meeting is over. The general direction of the action has been set. If you have any questions afterwards, you can confirm with me at any time!"

Laurence at the end of the long table subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief!

This meeting was not as gloomy and terrifying as he had imagined, nor was it filled with strange rituals or strict and bloody rules, but even so, the mere fact of being "constantly watched by Captain Duncan" here put him under considerable pressure. As a "newcomer" here, he had been tense all over, and now he could finally relax. But halfway through his sigh of relief, he noticed that the others around the table had no intention of getting up and leaving at all. Instead, most of them, including the highly respected scholar Morris, looked forward to the next part of the meeting.

Was there still a process to the meeting?

As soon as a trace of doubt emerged in Laurence's heart, he heard Nina's voice coming from across the table: "Ah, finally finished talking, let's eat, I'm hungry!"

"Eat a big meal today. Eat a big meal," Shelley also shouted happily.

"Today is a special day for the meeting. There's good soup stewing in the pot, and the time is just right," Alice said as she got up. "I'll go push the dining car over."

Laurence looked at the scene in front of him in a daze, completely confused about what was going to happen next. He turned his head and glanced at Agatha, who was closest to him, but saw the same bewildered look on her face!

At this moment, Duncan's voice suddenly came from the head of the long table, answering Laurence and Agatha's doubts: "After talking about serious business, we have a meal together. This is the rule on the ship!"

"After talking about serious business...have a meal together?"

Laurence listened in shock, thinking he had misheard something, but then he saw that the "living doll" actually pushed a large dining car back into the cabin. The old-fashioned dining car creaked as it was pushed, and many containers on the car contained steaming… food!

Laurence stared dumbfounded, watching Alice move the food onto the table, watching Shelley and Nina run around helping to set the plates and cutlery. He smelled the aroma of the food—there was fresh bread, vegetables and fruit, and it was all normal food that he, a human being, could eat!

The most intense of all the aromas came from a pot of soup at the end of the long table!

Delicious fish soup, in which were soaked slightly curled tender meats of an unrecognizable species. Heat was rising, and the slightly swaying surface of the soup seemed to have a little bit of activity remaining, and the curled meat slices were still spasming in the swirling steam!

But upon closer inspection, that tremor and spasm seemed to be an illusion that never happened!

Laurence stood up unconsciously, his eyes falling on the fish soup. He couldn't tell what kind of fish it was, nor did he notice anything unusual about this "food", yet a strong intuition was still pounding in his heart. It was the accumulation of decades of wandering on the Endless Sea, allowing him, an "ordinary person" without spiritual talent, to perceive certain transcendent things.

It was something that used to be extremely dangerous, something that could kill people and bury ocean-going ships in the deep sea.

"It's...it's fresh fish,"

Duncan smiled and said to Laurence and Agatha, who were attending the meeting for the first time, "I just caught it today, and I specially ran to a place quite a distance from Frost Island to catch it!"

"Fish?"

"Fish" caught in waters far from safe shipping lanes and far from the protection of islands?

Laurence's mind went blank for a moment, and some shocking guesses suddenly appeared in his mind, while Morris in the distance nodded friendly to him: "It's what you think, Captain Laurence, but relax, this is a necessary step to join us, and you don't have to worry, it's harmless now, it's definitely food on this ship."

Laurence listened in a daze, and by the time he reacted, Alice had already placed a bowl of steaming fish soup on the table in front of him!

But when she came to Agatha, Alice stopped in confusion!

"I can't eat." Agatha looked a little embarrassed. "This body is already a dead empty shell and can no longer enjoy delicious food!"

"It's okay," Duncan waved his hand generously when he saw this. "It's said to be the rule on the ship, but it's actually just like an ordinary gathering. Eat what you can, and if you can't eat, chat a few words to bring you closer together!"

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at the crystal ball in front of Tyrion: "Lucy, don't forget your dinner either!"

"Eating, eating..." Lucretia replied quickly.

"Luni brought me baked apple pie and bacon pie."

After listening, Duncan nodded, then smiled and looked at the sides of the long table, casually picked up the wine glass placed at hand, and raised his glass high as the host: "Then, for our gathering here, cheers!"

The slight dizziness faded away little by little, and the ghostly green light at the edge of the vision gradually dissipated into the air. The fresh and cold sea breeze blew across the deck, bringing an instant clarity to the mind!

The experience of attending the gathering on the Vanished was still like a dream, lingering in his mind with a bit of unreality.

Laurence shook his head, letting himself recover further, then came to the edge of the deck and looked at the sea that was gradually darkening into night!

The slightly glowing silhouette of the Vanished was still floating on the sea not far from the White Oak. It was like a dream!

Gathering on a mysterious ghost ship, communicating with various figures including living dolls, fragments of the sun, and ghostly demons. Deeply discussing the secrets of ancient gods and the Wei You in the spirit world.

Then, under the gaze and witness of the shadows of subspace, sharing the flesh and blood of the deep-sea spawn!

The meeting ended, and the wind of the real world blew across his cheeks again. As the tension and numbness in his mind gradually faded, and he was able to think again with human reason, and as the light and strange impressions during the meeting dissipated.

Laurence finally gradually realized the "essential appearance" of everything that had just happened!

A kind of belated "understanding" surged up, but he couldn't tell what he was feeling in his heart at this moment. A normal person should feel fear, should feel terror, and at the very least, should feel horror when recalling the "fish" that he ate!

But he didn't feel anything, only a strange sense of peace and belonging, soothing his restless mood!

So fragrant...